Fish culture in marine farm at Mandapam

The large-scale monoculture and polyculture of the milkfish, Chanos chanos were reported earlier form Southeast Asian countries.This article highlights some interesting and encouraging results obtained during the experiments of milkfish monoculture and polyculture of milkfish with mullet in Mandapam ponds. In the monoculture of milkfish the average size of the fish as well as the production rate could be substantially stepped up by resorting to supplementary feeding. In the polyculture of milkfish, the average growth rate was found to be more or less similar in both the fertilized and unfertilized ponds but the survival and production rates were higher in unfertilized pond. The yield of milkfish under monoculture in the present study is comparable to that of Ceylon, where selective harvesting followed by replenishment gave a production of 799 to 1159 kg/ha/annum. A production rate of 1405 kg/ha/10 months obtained in the present experimental polyculture of milkfish.